Improvement in magazine fire-arms



J. N. SMITH. MAGAZINE FIREARM.

No. 39,591. Patented Aug. 18, 1863.

tridges.

' tion by the A which the barrel cylinder 0 has ahorizontal bore back of the rifles, preventthe cartridge-case- JOSEPH N. SMITH, OF CINCINNATI, 'onro.

IMPROVEMENT IN MAGAZINE FIRE-ARMS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 39,691

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,-JosEPH N. SMITH, of Cincinnati, Ohio, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Fire-Arms; and I doherebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings,1and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

.111 the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, A represents the stock 'of the gun, for whichguttapercha' is preferable. This stock is made in two parts, being divided longitudinally and vertically. (See Figure 2, which is alongitndinal vertical section.) In each part of the stock is a groove, A, which grooves coincide throughout, so that: when the two parts of the stock are applied together there-results but one smooth and continuous groove for- I The depth diameter and itswi thecartridge to be used, so tha'tthe cartridges,

the reception of the carof this groove equals the t c feeding. apparatus.

In gun-stocks plan the cartridges have been placed so that they were carried either longitudinally or vertically to the stock; but in this case they are laid side' by side in a horizontalpositlomand at a right anglewith the axis of the re], and in this position are forced: up by afoL. lower until they are turned inth'e rightdirecdevices hereinafter set forth.

represents a metallic 'breech-piecainto screws. 'Whenthe-barrel is screwed into the breech-piece from the top to. ward the under side, the hole embraces a portion of the rear of the barrel, which is thereby made concave. In this hole'in the breechpiece is. a vertical cylinder, 0, revolving in the the manner of afaucet-breech. This I through it corresponding with the bore of the gun. The front portion of rifled like the barrel.

w, ig. 4, represent a groove around the inside of the bore of this cylinder, (and just the olgjectof which is to cm passin backconstructedupon the usual ct-tooth, e,

thecylinder-borqr', Fig. 4, is

made will be pressed into this groove, and be thus prevented from passing backward.

Behindtthe cylinder and in the breech-piece is formed an opening, in which a rack-bar, G is made to play;- bar 0' is formed a suitable breech-pin, fitting into the bore of cylinder 0. This breech-pin has a small cone, 2, on its-forward end, which 'is provided with a small opening in it, as is represented at 2, Fig. 4, through which fire passes to ignite the charge. r,

is a small shaft, having a wheel gearing into the under side of the rack-bar and operating it back and forth in its chamber. 1D is a brace or tumbler, which is pivoted near the rear end of the breech-piece. When the rackbar is drawn back it passes over the tumblerbrace D but when it is pushed forward about its fullest extent the long teeth a, Fig. 4, of the pinion catch into the teeth upon a part of the forward end of the brace, raisingit so that it isimmediately behind and in contact with the rack, and serves as a firm brace to counter act the recoil when the gun is fired.

At the under side of the brace D is a small spring, &, for returning and retaining the brace in its ion which moves the bar 0 and behind the, cylinder (his situated a turn -table, E, a top view of which is seen in Fig.9. This table, when it moves on its vertical axis, turns onequarter around each movement, andis open. ated by-means of a small projection or ratch- (see Fig.8,) which catches'into a notch upon the upper side. Thetable is provided with -two cross openings, as shown, which are made large enough to receive the cartridges laterally. When the cartridges are moved up the'lower groove, A, in the stock they pass under the table at the arrow 1, Fig. 2, and are one by one pressed sidewise into the opening in it.

hetablemoves one-quarter around after with the axis of the the bore of the gun. en the table assumes this position tl'e'next ball is forced into the table from below and crosswise, driving or lifting the preceding one into the chamber behind the cylinder. The rack-bar then approaches, and the breech-pin z carriesflthe cartridge betoreit intothe, bore" dated August 18, 1863; anteflated January 21, 1863.

Upon the front end of this. y

proper-place. Just forward of the pin-.

in" it, and the ball is'.

0 10f the cylinder. The rack-bar 0 .being then braced from behind, as has been described, the charge is ready to be fired.

F represents the cock of the gun, which is secured in position by-meaus of a bolt, G. (Seen in Fig. 10.) This bolt has a large head,

.which OOHfiHGSJlOt only the cock, but also a eogged segment, H, the collar of which lies in a recess in the cock. This segment has a spring at its back, which allows it a little backward play, but which catches, when pressed forward, against a port-ion of the collar of the cock which surrounds the head of bolt G, and thus serves to raise the cock.

A wheel upon shafhD, partly cogged, as shown 'in Fig. 3, meshes into the .cogs of segment H, and thus when said wheel is turned the cock is raised. Upon .the collar of the cock, around the bolt-head, is a notch at i, Fig. 3, which catches upon the rear of the box I, and is thus held up when the cock is raised. lis a square box with a cylindrical bore, which is provided with a rod or bar, I, which passes back and is operated upon by the trigger. A rod passes into this box, and serves as a guide for it, and a spring (see red lines in Fig. 8) is coiled in the'bore, which serves to press it toward the notch in the cock. box is also provided with a slot or opening, through which. a pin passes, as seen at n, Fig. 3. The trigger is secured to the shaft m, as shown in Fig. 1. 1 Upon the shaft D is a cam-wheel, L, which is provided with two notches. (Shown in Figs. 2 and 3.) Above and almost surrounding this cam-wheel is a curved plate, M, with a cam shaped interior, and with a tooth on its end,

which is loose. The other end is pivoted at 0 to the breech-piece. Qn top of this plate a square'notch is cut, in which a pin, S, works, as shown in Fig. 2. The pin S is secured to a bar, N, which passes forward over the cylinder O. The forwardend of this bar is. also.

provided with a pin, which plays in the slot of a plate, P, Fig. 6. The cylinder 0 is also provided with --a plate is pivoted to the under side of a cap piece, Q.

The moving of the bar N, by means of its pin working in the slot of P back and forth, oscillates the plate 1, thereby partially rotating cylinder 0, which is attached by a screw. When the bar N moves forward the cylinder (J is so moved as to bring its bore in line with that. of the barrel, (see Fig..13;) butv when it is moved backward, after having been moved forward, the bore of the cylinder is made to correspond with a diagonal-opening through the breech-piece, (seen at B, Fig. 2,) so that a wiper may pass through, for

cleansing the. opening in thecylinder and removing. the cartridge-case which has been used.

J represents a connecting-rod, which is socured at one end to the cock F, Fig. 3, and at its I 4 pin, 17, Fig. 4, which also. works 111 the slot or opening in plate P, which.

.shaft D, whic to plateP' around which the springt is wound. The

other to a plate, T, Fig. 5. The plate T lies on" the upper side of 't-heeap-piece Q, and connects through a slot, u, in said cap with a bar, T, Fig.7. V is a small plate, which is secured to the cap Q, and fits snugly over the plate T, Fig. 5. Immediately under the plate V, and in the path of the plate '1, is a small hole, .into which the fulniinates are placed, and which are pressed up by means of aspring and pin under them. 'When the plate Tmoves under the plate V a fulminate. is pressed by the spriuginto the curved end of the plate T, and iscarried on by it to the opening 20, Fig. 5, through which communication is had with the charge in the gun. I

The liar T is pivoted at its center, and one end lies in a groove in a bar, 1 as shown, Fig. 7, and serves to give said bar 3/ a backward and forward endwise motion. 1 This bar 3 has a small slide upon it, which is regulated by means of a screw, 2, Fig. 7. The object of the slide is to strike against an arm on the lower end of the sight 3, for raising or lowering it. The sight 3 is pivoted and provided with an arm on its lower end, against which the slide can press for moving the. outer end of said sight up and down. The sight can he raised higher or lower by simply changii'ig the position of the slide upon .the bar 3 hen it is secured close to the arm it will raise the sight more than when it is secured fart-her oif.

K represents the mainspring,which operates upon t-he cock through a link, K, as is shown in Fig. 3. A small spring is used for giving the sight a downward tendency, so that it will follow the slide upon bar 3'; down again. Fig. '1 represents the external appearanceof a portion of one side of the gun-stock with the outer disk, 5, removed. 4 represents a plate with ashort barrel secured to it, around which a coiled'spring,6, winds, one end of the spring being secured to the barrel and one to the plate 7, which slides backward and forward-"- under the plate 4. To plate 7 is secured a, jointed rod, 8-, with a wiperatits end. When the plate 7 is moved forward the wiper passes into the opening or here of cylinder 0 and wipesitout, has been suggested. The plate 7 is moved forward by means of a pin, 9, upon the disk 5'. The diskv 5 tits over the plate 4 and s ring 6 upon the end of the passes through the barrel plate T7"-is""provided' with. a shoulder froni IO to 11, and with beveled surfaces at 12 and 13.

The pin 9 on disk 5 i's'thrown outbyaspring, and. can be readily pressed in by a b'eveledsurface, so that when the disk 5 is secured in, proper position and partially turned the beveled surface 13 presses the pin in until it arrives at the shoulder at 10. hind the shoulder and moves the plate 7 forward, with the wiper,until the pin passes the point 11; then coming to a groovein the plate,

the plate is drawn back by spring '6, and the 1 beveled surface 12 presses up the pin, so as to It then drops'beallow the plate 7 to pass under it. When the disk'5 is again turned partially around the same operation is performed, the pin passing over the inclined or beveled surface 13 and operating the plate 7. The plate returns to its position, as described, by passing its beveled surface 12 under the pin.

The operation of loading and firing this gun is performed by means of the disk 5; for, being firmly attached or secured to the shaft 1), it moves all of the internal parts described, and, as has just been seen, it also moves the wiper to cleanse the chamber of cylinder 0 at each discharge.

The cartridges are drawn up to the turn-table E by means of a follower, 14, and cord 15, one end of the cord being secured to a drum, which is actuated by a strong coiled spring,

Fig. 1.. A ratchet-wheel and ratchet or detent are used upon the drum, so as not to allow the cartridges to yield or return after they have been carried forward by any sudden shock or blow which the gun may receive by dropping it or otherwise.

The bar 3/ is provided with a small hole, seen in Fig. 7 and marked 20,) which stands immediately over the opening whichcommunicates with the bore of the gun. Thefulminate is burst upon thishole, and whenv the gun is again cocked for use the bar 51 moves, as has been described, carrying the hole 20 under the cap Q, whichforces the old copper of the fulminate from around the hole and drops itinto an openi'ng-behiml it, from whence it passes out through a passage in the side of the breech-piece. The force of the next fulminate drives out the preceding remains through the. passage just mentioned.

Having thus fully described my invention, what 1 claim as uew,aud desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. Constructing the stock of the gun in two parts, with a broad-groove, A, so that the cartridges may be placed in said groove horizontally transverse to the stock, substantially as herein set forth. V

' 2. The wheel 17 and ratchet 16, used, as described, with the cord 15 and follower 14 and spring 18, for moving and stationing the cartridges, substantially as specified.

3. The turntable E, with openings for admitting the cartridges laterally, operating substantially as specified, for the purpose of turning the cartridges in the right direction, substantially asset forth.

4. The use of the opening through the breechpiece at R, corresponding with the opening in cylinder 0, for the purpose herein set forth.

The employment of the rack-bar O, in combination with the sprin g-catch or brace D, constructed and operating substantially as set forth.

6. The employment of the cam-wheel L and plate M, or their equivalents, constructed and oprating substantially as set forth.

7. The use of the bar N, or-its equivalent, for operating cylinder (1 and table E, as herein set forth.

8. The employment of the segment H, as constructed, when used in connection with the cock and the segmentpinion on the shaft D, arranged substantially as set forth.

9. The employment of the wiper 8, or its equivalent, and the plate 7, for the purpose sepcified.

JOSEPH N. SMITH.

Witnesses:

G. M. ALEXANDER,

V. N. PIPIN. 

